Page 66 of Mated to the Alien Warlord

Our departure was becoming imminent, until one morning a servant knocked on our door. "Warlord Brogan wishes for you to join him on the battlements," he announced.

Hope rushed through me. "Do you think it means Kendryx and Chrissy are back?"

Vandor looked thoughtful but nodded.

The only other option was that more drones or the dreaded humans were coming, but if it had been the latter, the servant would have shown fear, which he hadn't.

As far as the drones went, after Brogan ordered every single one to be shot down, they stopped coming, at least here over Grymburg. They were still seen all over Thyre, but Gryck put a bounty on any shot down drone, emptying his coffers faster than he could have thought possible.

Which only left the third option open, Kendryx and Chrissy were returning.

I quickly put on a dress, wondering what news they would bring. Had their mission succeeded? Had they sabotaged the humans as Chrissy had hinted at or had they been able to talk the leaders into leaving us be? Or were they back to warn us of an impending strike?

Vandor instructed the servant to take care of Murtagh and together he and I ran up the stairs to the battlements, where we found Brogan, Alahna, and Cassair, staring out onto the Dead Sea past the anchored Vandall fleet. King Uthar and Khazar Gryck joined us only minutes later.

The slight breeze caressing us was almost warm, and I shuddered at the thought that soon Alahna and I would have to leave, if it wasn't Kendryx and Chrissy arriving. I couldn't take the suspense any longer and cried, "Is it them?"

Brogan pointed over the Dark Sea until I made out a small vessel sailing for the coast. It looked like the same one Kendryx and Chrissy had left in, but I couldn't be sure.

"It's them," Cassair announced, holding out a looking glass for Gryck to take.

"We should wait inside where it's warm. It will be hours yet before they arrive," Vandor exclaimed, tugging me closer.

Bryck and the others agreed wholeheartedly but none of us moved.

"Why don't you try to take Alahna back inside, czira? She shouldn't be out here in her condition," Vandor whispered to me in an obvious attempt to manipulate me inside as well. "It will be hours yet, and I promise I will send word."

My eyes told him what I thought of his plan, and I almost said that I had been pregnant and out in the cold, but the truth of it was that Ahlana wasn't me, and she did have better options available.

"Let's go prepare for the guests," I suggested to my new friend, rolling my eyes.

She giggled, guessing this wasn't my idea, but she didn't protest, which told me that being out here was more uncomfortable for her than she let on.

In truth, the time went by quicker since we had something to do other than standing freezing on the ramparts, and it didn't seem that much longer until a warrior found us, informing us that Warlord Kendryx and Chrissy had landed and were on their way here.

The men came down from the battlements and Alahna and I handed out hot grog to warm them up.

Finally, the doors to the great hall opened and Kendryx and Chrissy entered, smiling widely.

"It is done," Kendryx announced to loud cheers from the assembled court.

Vandor pulled me into his arms and kissed me before he went to clap Kendryx on the shoulder.

"It's not over yet," Chrissy warned with a severe expression on her face. "But the playing field has been leveled. If the Terran Confederation wants to come after us, they will have to use swords and spears like us."

My ears pricked when she used the wordus. Her eyes sparkled mischievously at Alahna and me, and together she and I stepped forward to hug Chrissy. "Sister!"

Chrissy hesitated only for a moment before she hugged us back.

"What does this mean?" I finally dared to ask.

Vandor moved to my side and hugged me to him. "It means I will have to leave you for a while. I'm sorry."

My heart dropped, but I had known this would come.

"I swear I will return posthaste my love." Vandor kissed me heatedly. "In the meantime, let's have a feast in Kendryx' and Chrissy's honor."

"I love you," I told him honestly.

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